a possible break in stalled negotiations to avoid the so- called fiscal cliff. for the first time in days, president obama and house speaker john balkaner spoke by phone about the looming deadline. there reportedly was no major progress but leaders say it was a start. the two sides have agreed to tax reforms and spending cuts but are still at a stalemate on raising attacks on incomes over $250,000. >> the hold-up right now is that speaker boehner took a position i think the day after the campaign that said we're willing to bring in revenue but we're not willing to increase rates. >> i'm be here an i'll be available at any moment to sit down with the president to get serious about solving this problem. >> speaker boehner says the president has not responded to the republicans' latest proposal that does not include a tax increase on wealthy americans. >>> new this thursday morning, former delegate tiffany alston is officially out of office. yesterday, a prince george's county judge ruled that she was out of office following her october plea deal relating to office